Approvals committee – February 2011

1. Since the last Board meeting, our approval committee has met on 16 February 2011 to consider applications requiring approval of consultancy contracts over £20,000 and all external recruitment.

2. The cases considered are listed below:

| Meeting date | Ref: No. & directorate | Summary of application | Consultancy/ recruit | Committee Decision | |--------------------|------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|--------------------| | 16 February 2011 | 85 Legal Services | Appointment of senior legal advisor | Recruitment | Approved | | 16 February 2011 | 89 RME | On-rail competition study £130,000 | Consultancy | Approved | | 16 February 2011 | 90 CS | Follow up to board effectiveness/senior recruitment support £26,100 | Consultancy | Approved |

Further details of any of the above applications and decisions are available from Brian Warrener.

3. The committee were also provided with details of any applications below £20,000 which are subject to approval by the director of corporate services. There have been three applications approved totalling £31,500k.

4. The committee also met on 1 February to consider one tender in excess of the OGC approved rate card. This was approved after clarification.